Aged Mental Health Research Unit, Monash University, Kingston Centre, Warrigal Road, Cheltenham, Melbourne, VIC 3192, Australia.
BMC Geriatr. 2010 Jul 22;10:49. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-10-49.
The agitated behaviours that accompany dementia (e.g. pacing, aggression, calling out) are stressful to both nursing home residents and their carers and are difficult to treat. Increasingly more attention is being paid to alternative interventions that are associated with fewer risks than pharmacology. Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) has been thought, for centuries, to have soothing properties, but the existing evidence is limited and shows mixed results. The aim of the current study is to test the effectiveness of topically applied pure lavender oil in reducing actual counts of challenging behaviours in nursing home residents.
METHODS/DESIGN: We will use a blinded repeated measures design with random cross-over between lavender oil and placebo oil. Persons with moderate to severe dementia and associated behavioural problems living in aged care facilities will be included in the study. Consented, willing participants will be assigned in random order to lavender or placebo blocks for one week then switched to the other condition for the following week. In each week the oils will be applied on three days with at least a two-day wash out period between conditions. Trained observers will note presence of target behaviours and predominant type of affect displayed during the 30 minutes before and the 60 minutes after application of the oil. Nursing staff will apply 1 ml of 30% high strength essential lavender oil to reduce the risk of missing a true effect through under-dosing. The placebo will comprise of jojoba oil only. The oils will be identical in appearance and texture, but can easily be identified by smell. For blinding purposes, all staff involved in applying the oil or observing the resident will apply a masking cream containing a mixture of lavender and other essential oils to their upper lip. In addition, nursing staff will wear a nose clip during the few minutes it takes to massage the oil to the resident's forearms.
If our results show that the use of lavender oil is effective in reducing challenging behaviours in individuals with dementia, it will potentially provide a safer intervention rather than reliance on pharmacology alone. The study's findings will translate easily to other countries and cultures.
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry - ACTRN 12609000569202.
痴呆症伴随的激越行为（如踱步、攻击、呼喊）对养老院居民及其护理人员来说都是一种压力，且这些行为难以治疗。人们越来越关注替代干预措施，这些措施比药物治疗的风险更小。几个世纪以来，薰衣草（lavandula angustifolia）一直被认为具有舒缓特性，但现有证据有限，且结果喜忧参半。本研究旨在测试局部应用纯薰衣草油是否能有效减少养老院居民的激越行为次数。
方法/设计：我们将采用双盲重复测量设计，随机交叉薰衣草油和安慰剂油。患有中度至重度痴呆症和相关行为问题且居住在养老院的人员将纳入研究。同意并愿意参与的参与者将按照随机顺序分配到薰衣草或安慰剂组，每组为期一周，然后在下一周切换到另一种条件。在每一周中，将在三天内涂抹油，两种条件之间至少有两天的洗脱期。经过培训的观察者将记录目标行为的出现情况以及在涂抹油前 30 分钟和涂抹油后 60 分钟期间显示的主要情绪类型。护理人员将应用 1 毫升 30%高浓度薰衣草精油，以降低因剂量不足而错过真实效果的风险。安慰剂将仅包含荷荷芭油。两种油在外观和质地方面完全相同，但可以通过气味轻易识别。为了达到盲法目的，所有参与涂抹油或观察居民的工作人员将在其上唇涂抹含有薰衣草和其他精油混合物的遮盖霜。此外，护理人员在给居民涂抹油的几分钟内将佩戴鼻夹。
如果我们的结果表明薰衣草油在减少痴呆症患者的激越行为方面有效，那么它将提供一种更安全的干预措施，而不是仅仅依赖药物治疗。该研究的结果将很容易转化为其他国家和文化。
澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心 - ACTRN 12609000569202。
